Why it's always worth spending more on high-quality luggage

A sturdy suitcase is an
investment in yourself and your travel
experience.Shutterstock

Traveling can be stressful. For both frequent and occasional
travelers, the trick to survival is to minimize the number of
things that can go wrong, thereby lessening potential stress
along the way.

And there's no better way to lessen travel-related stress than to
ensure that your constant rolling companion keeps doing what it's
supposed to do throughout your trip. Your suitcase is inarguably
the most important thing you have with you when you travel — save
your passport, of course.

I learned this the hard way. I once purchased a bag for no more
than $40 from a mid-range department store in the middle of a
sale. I thought I got a great deal, even if I had never heard of
the brand.

When the bag arrived, it seemed decent. It was stylish and light,
with a plastic hard shell, and it had plenty of pockets inside.
Perfect for an international trip, I thought. I was pretty proud
of myself.

It turned out to be junk. Fast forward to my return home,
when I had to drag the bag a mile and a half through London
streets on my way to catch a train to the airport. And I
really do mean drag — somehow, one of the wheels' axles had
broken, and I was forced to drag the suitcase in addition to
carrying my duffle bag. I was on a tight schedule. This was
not ideal. It was stressful. Imagine the
situation.

I also had to drag that bag through the train station, the
airport, the airport tram, customs and passport control, and then
another airport. The bag went straight back to that mid-range
department store, which promptly let me return it, much to
my relief.

For my next trip, I'll be choosing something a lot more sturdy:
maybe a suitcase by Travelpro (the brand flight
crews swear by), Briggs
and Riley (which comes with a lifetime warranty,
including damage caused by airlines), or Rimowa (a
luxury brand that's a favorite of celebrities).

Rimowa bags, which start
at $400.Darren McCollester/Getty
Images for RIMOWA

In the past, it seemed prudent to avoid spending a lot of money
on luggage, since it was frequently lost, misplaced, or stolen.
Now, high-tech luggage
trackers can make that less of a worry, and airlines are
losing bags a lot
less often.

Cheaping out is just not worth it anymore. Not when you're 1,000
miles from home and the only things you have with you are in a
flimsy container that is scraping its stuck wheel against
historic cobblestone streets. It's hard to take in the sights
when you're trying to ensure your belongings are still with you.

A sturdy suitcase is an investment in yourself and your travel
experience. (Which, people tell me, is supposed to be enjoyable.)